Car-coupling



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. AMOS B. LEFEVER, OF LEACOCK, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,305, dated August 1, 1893. Y

Application filed May 3, 1898- Serial No. 472,827. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern: 7

Be it known that I, AMOS B. LEFEVER, a citizen of theUnited States, residing in Leacock township, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Automatic Gar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of devices used for automatically coupling cars; and it consists in the construction and combination of the various parts, as hereinafter fully described, and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure 1 is the side elevation of an end of a car, showing a coupling embodying my improvement, the rockshaf t being in section and one of the bumpers cutaway. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, but showing all the parts in place. Fig. 3 is an enlarged top view of the drawhead detached, and Fig.4 an enlarged side view of the same, showinga modified form of pin-lever. Fig. 5 is a front end view of the drawhead. Fig. 6 is alongitudinal vertical section of the draw-head, showing the coupling-pin engagedwith the link, and Fig. 7 asimilar view of the front end of the draw-head, showing the position of the parts as the coupling link is engaging the pin.

Similar letters indicate like out the several views.

Referring to the details of the drawings, A indicates the body of the car; A, the longitudinal sills beneath the car; a, the platform, and a the bumpers.

B is the draw-head having the usual horizontal opening, I), with a flaring mouth 6 in which opening coupling-link O is received. In the bottom of the rear end of opening bis an elongated recess b forming a shoulder b parts throughat its front against which the lower end of.

the coupling-pin bears. If preferable, a slot extending entirely through the plate may be substituted for recess 173. Above recess 12 there is an elongated slotb in the topplate of the draw-head.

On the top of the draw-head and on the opsite sides of slot 1) there are located two flat springs E, having their inner ends secured to the draw-head in any approved manner, as shown at 6'. Back of slot 1) there is a post f there is a perforated post 01, through which perforation and a like perforation in the front I end of bent-lever F said rock-p1ate and lever are connected by a link f.

Along the end of the car and adjacent to platform a there extends a rock-shaft G, journaled in bearings g and having cranks H attached to the ends thereof. The downward movement of the cranks is limited by studs, h, set in the side of, the car. The inner end of bent-lever F is connected with rock-shaft G by a chain g, adapted to be wound around the rock-shaft by the depression of cranks H.

In operating, to couple two cars together, the link is pushed into opening b, forcing the coupling-pin back and tilting the rockplate, as shown in Fig. 7. As the link passes the end of the coupling-pin the latterengages said link and assumes an upright position, being forced thereto by the pressure of springs E. To uncouple, the coupling-pin is raised by pressure upon one of the cranks H, thereby depressing the inner end of bent lever F, the coupling-pin being again forced down into the draw-head by springs Eupon the release of the pressure on the crank H.

I do not limit myself to any particular construction'of the bent-lever F or means for actuating the same; neither do I restrict myself to the particular construction of the springs E and rock-plate D, herein shown and described, as it is evident that many changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of my in vention. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw head slotted substantially as described, of a rectangular spring actuated rockplate having its lower front edge beveled, a

coupling-pin secured thereto and passing into the draw-head, and means for raising the rock-plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw head slotted substantially as described, of spring-plates located on opposite sides of the slot in the top of the draw-head, a rock-plate having its ends journaled in the vibrating ends of the spring-plates, a coupling pin secured to the rock-plate and passing into the draw-head, and means for raising the rock-plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw head slotted substantially as described, of a spring actuated rock-plate, a coupling pin secured thereto and passing into the draw-head, a lever fulcrumed behind the rock-plate, a hinge connection between the outer end of the lever and the rock-plate, and means for depressing the inner end of the lever, substantially as and for the purpose speci-' fied.

4. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head slotted substantially as described, of spring-plates located on opposite sides of theslot in the top of the draw-head, a rock-plate having its ends journaledin the vibrating ends of the spi-ingplates, a coupling-pin secured to the rock-plate and pass-. ing into the draw-head, a lever fulcruined behind the rock-plate, a hinge-connection between the outer end of the lever and the rockplate, and means for depressing the inner end of the lever, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw -head slotted substantially as described, of spring-plates located on opposite sides of the slot in the top of the draw-head, a rock-plate having its ends journaled in the vibrating ends of the spring-plates, a coup ling-pin secured to the rock-plate and passing into the draw-head, a rock-shaft attached to the car, and a connection between the rockplate and rock-shaft whereby said rock-plate is raised by the rock-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a ear-coupling, the combination, With a draw head slotted substantially as described, of spring-plates extending longitudinally of the draw-head on oppositesides of the slot in the top thereof, a rock-plate having its ends journaled in the vibrating ends of the spring-plates, a coupling-pin secured to the rock-plate and passing into the drawhead, a lever fulcrulned behind the rock-plate, a hinge-connection between the outer end of the lever and the rock-plate, a rock-shaft journaled to the front of the car, a chain connecting the inner end of the lever andthe rock-shaft, and cranks attached tothe-roekshaft and adapted to actuate the same to take up said chain, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

A. B. LE FEVER. Witnesses:

J AOOB HALBAOH, WMcR. GERI-IART. 

